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House OKs jobs bill, after rancor

"We need to be a start-up country again," Cantor said. | Jay Westcott/POLITICO

The Quayle camp called the Democrats’ accusation “ridiculous” and insisted that Quayle’s version was better because it dropped a study required by Himes’ legislation – though the two bills are otherwise essentially the same.

“It’s a non-issue,” Quayle spokesman Zach Howell said Thursday morning. “They ought to be focused on creating jobs and passing this bipartisan package.”

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And though they largely voted for the package on Thursday, Democrats mocked it as a mere redressing of bills that had already and overwhelmingly passed the entire chamber – with House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) calling it as the “Just Old Bills” Act.

When asked why she wasn’t touting the legislation for its bipartisan nature, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) – who belittled it as a “jobs bill light” – said “it’s because it’s so meager.”

Other bills in the JOBS Act, much like the Quayle legislation, are aimed at easing various SEC regulations. One allows smaller companies to go public sooner by slowing down certain SEC rules. Another allows more shareholders to take part in community banks.

And three bills – all which have already passed the House with 400-plus votes – would allow small businesses to use ads to solicit investors, encourage so-called “crowd-funding” to collect smaller amounts of capital from investors, and allow more companies making public offerings to opt out of SEC registration requirements.

Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday the Senate will move its own version of a small business jobs bill next week.

While he called the House effort “commendable,” the Nevada Democrat said the upper chamber would press forward with a separate measure that the Senate Banking Committee has already been working on.

“We will pass our own bill and move as quickly as we can on the legislation,” Reid told reporters at a news conference.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) who heads policy and messaging for Senate Democrats, challenged House Republicans to take up a highway funding bill the Senate is debating Thursday and expected to pass soon. But he offered rare praise for the House small business bill, saying it’s “filled with good things.”

“The Senate has shown a willingness to work with the House in a bipartisan way,” Schumer said. “Our bill will have more consumer protections, investor protections, but it will be similar – we’re not standing in the way of their bill because it originated over there.

“Make no mistake, we’re going to pass a small business bill similar to the one the House is producing,” he added. “The question is will the House pass a bipartisan highway bill jobs bill coming out of a Senate.”

GOOD! THIS IS AS IT SHOULD BE--BOTH SIDES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. That is the best way for members of Congress to show they deserve their pay. I hope this spirit of cooperation continues. this is important if Congress would regain its respect in the eyes of American people.

GOOD! THIS IS AS IT SHOULD BE--BOTH SIDES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. That is the best way for members of Congress to show they deserve their pay. I hope this spirit of cooperation continues. this is important if Congress would regain its respect in the eyes of American people.

ATTENTION REPUBLICANS!!!!! Take away this as a lesson in patriotic duty. This is the way bi-partisism works. If it's good for the country and it's people, vote yes even though the other party gets the credit.

GOOD! THIS IS AS IT SHOULD BE--BOTH SIDES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. That is the best way for members of Congress to show they deserve their pay. I hope this spirit of cooperation continues. this is important if Congress would regain its respect in the eyes of American people